(1974)
3
Donald Guarisco
This charming little sleeper is worth the hunt for fans of offbeat comedies. The script, adapted from a Donald Westlake novel, takes the heist thriller and sets that genre on its ear by using a novel plot hook (the idea of stealing an entire bank) and replacing its usual tough-guy character archetypes with a bunch of zanies right out of the slapstick-comedy playbook. George C. Scott has a ball playing against type as the reluctant mastermind hero, using his natural gift for the slow-burn to comedic ends and showing a nice flair for deadpan comic wit. Elsewhere, there are nice turns by Joanna Cassidy, who manages to be silly and sexy all at once, and Bob Balaban, who is talented enough to go toe to toe with Scott in the deadpan-comedy arena. However, the big scene-stealer turns out to be Sorrell Booke: his frantic reactions to the goings-on prompt many a knee-jerk laugh throughout the film. Behind the camera, director Gower Champion keeps the plot rolling at a breakneck pace and makes nice use of a jaunty musical score by John Morris to enhance the film's breezy, madcap mood. In short, Bank Shot brings a uniquely witty style to a familiar genre and is thus worth a look to cult film aficionados.
cast-crew for Bank Shot on AllMovie
Bank Shot (1974)
